Reuven Rivlin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Reuven Rivlin
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רְאוּבֵן רִיבְלִין
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Official portrait, 2014
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| 10th President of Israel | |
| In office 24 July 2014 – 7 July 2021 |
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| Prime Minister | Benjamin Netanyahu Naftali Bennett |
| Preceded by | Shimon Peres |
| Succeeded by | Isaac Herzog |
| Speaker of the Knesset | |
| In office 10 March 2009 – 22 February 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Dalia Itzik |
| Succeeded by | Yuli-Yoel Edelstein |
| In office 28 February 2003 – 28 March 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Avraham Burg |
| Succeeded by | Dalia Itzik |
| Minister of Communications | |
| In office 7 March 2001 – 28 February 2003 |
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| Prime Minister | Ariel Sharon |
| Preceded by | Binyamin Ben-Eliezer |
| Succeeded by | Ariel Sharon |
| Member of the Knesset | |
| In office 1 September 1996 – 11 June 2014 |
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| In office 21 November 1988 – 13 July 1992 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 September 1939 Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine |
| Political party | Likud |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
| Signature |  |
| Presidential styles of Reuven "Ruvi" Rivlin |
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| Reference style | His Excellency, The Honorable כבוד הנשיא |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency, Honorable President כבוד הנשיא |
| Alternative style | Mr. President אדוני הנשיא |
Reuven "Ruvi" Rivlin (Hebrew: רְאוּבֵן "רוּבִי" רִיבְלִין [ʁeʔuˈven ʁivˈlin]; born 9 September 1939) is an Israeli politician and lawyer. He served as the President of Israel from 2014 to 2021. He is a member of the Likud political party.
Before becoming president, Rivlin was the Minister of Communications from 2001 to 2003. He also served as the Speaker of the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) from 2003 to 2006 and again from 2009 to 2013. He was elected President of Israel on June 10, 2014, and his term ended on July 7, 2021.
Rivlin believes in a "Greater Israel" where all people, including Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, would have full Israeli citizenship. He strongly supports minority rights, especially for Arab Israelis. He also supports the idea of a one-state solution for the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
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Early Life and Education
Reuven Rivlin was born in Jerusalem in 1939, when the area was known as Mandatory Palestine. His family, the Rivlins, had lived in Jerusalem since 1809. His parents were Rachel "Ray" Rivlin and Yosef Yoel Rivlin. His father, Yosef, created the first Hebrew version of the Quran.
Rivlin went to Gymnasia Rehavia high school. He then served in the Israeli Intelligence Corps of the Israel Defense Forces. During the Six-Day War, he was an intelligence officer with the Jerusalem Brigade. After his military service, he studied law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Before starting his political career, Rivlin held several important positions. He was a legal advisor and manager for the Beitar Jerusalem Sports Association. He also served on the Jerusalem City Council and was a board member for El Al, Israel's national airline.
Political Journey
Rivlin was first elected to the Knesset in 1988. He served as the chairman of the Likud party from 1988 to 1993. After losing his seat in 1992, he returned to the Knesset in 1996.
In March 2001, he became the Minister of Communications, a role he held until February 2003. After that, he was elected Knesset Speaker in 2003. During his time as Speaker, he was known for speaking his mind, even when it went against the government's plans. For example, he disagreed with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan.
Rivlin was re-elected to the Knesset in 2006 and 2009. In 2007, he ran for President but withdrew when it became clear that Shimon Peres had more support. On March 30, 2009, the Knesset elected him as Speaker again.
As Speaker, Rivlin made his first official visit to the Arab-Israeli town of Umm al-Fahm. This showed his commitment to connecting with all parts of Israeli society. Since 1999, his chief of staff has been Rivka Ravitz, a Haredi woman, who helped him manage his successful campaigns.
President of Israel
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Reuven Rivlin was elected as the 10th President of Israel on June 10, 2014. He won with the support of many members of the Knesset, including Arab lawmakers and right-wing politicians. He was sworn in on July 24, 2014, taking over from Shimon Peres. When he became president, he stopped being a member of the Knesset.
As president, Rivlin played a key role in forming new governments after elections. For example, in March 2015, he officially asked Benjamin Netanyahu to form a new government. Rivlin also spoke about the importance of improving Israel's relationship with the United States and healing divisions within Israeli society.
In July 2015, Rivlin strongly condemned an attack on a Palestinian home. He called the attackers "terrorists" and said that Israel needed to do more to stop such violence. After his comments, he received threats.
Rivlin continued to oversee the process of forming governments after several elections between 2019 and 2021. When no single party could form a government, he would give different leaders the chance to build a coalition. This process sometimes led to new elections. His term as president ended on July 7, 2021, when Isaac Herzog became the new president.
Views and Beliefs
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Even though Rivlin is considered a nationalist, he is a strong supporter of minority rights, especially for Arab-Israelis. His first official visit as Knesset Speaker was to the Arab-Israeli city of Umm al-Fahm, showing his desire for unity.
In 2010, Rivlin spoke out against a group of rabbis who said Jewish Israelis should not rent apartments to non-Jews. He said, "In my opinion, their statement shames the Jewish people." He also criticized anti-Arab chants by fans of the Beitar Jerusalem football team, saying, "Israeli society is sick, and it is our duty to treat this disease."
Rivlin has supported the idea of a one-state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians would live together in one country. He believes that Israel's fight is against terrorism, not against the Palestinian people or Islam. He has stated that "West Bank settlements are as Israeli as Tel Aviv."
Rivlin has also spoken about the Armenian genocide, saying in 2012 that it is a "moral duty to remember" the tragedy. As president, he was less vocal on this topic.
In February 2018, when the Polish Prime Minister suggested that there were Jewish people who helped the Nazis during the Holocaust, Rivlin strongly condemned these words. He said, "Saying that our people collaborate with the Nazis is a new low." He also participated in the March of the Living in Poland, emphasizing that while many Poles fought the Nazis, some Poles were involved in the extermination.
Personal Life
Reuven Rivlin was married to Nechama Rivlin from 1971 until her death in 2019. They had four children. Rivlin has been a vegetarian since the late 1960s. He has been a lifelong supporter of the Beitar Jerusalem football club, attending his first game at age seven. He is also fluent in Arabic.
See also
In Spanish: Reuven Rivlin para niños
